blows my mind that cheetahs are apex predators. that is the single most anxious creature I have ever seen. at any given moment a cheetah is exactly one stubbed paw away from bursting into tears. that is a sad dripping wet animal, and it's at the top of the local food chain? babygirl what happened
things I learned from this post:
cheetahs regularly get bullied by lions, hyenas, crocodiles, and baboons
multiple people think this means cheetahs aren't an apex predator/belong lower on the food chain
which is how I learned humans equate social status with position on the food chain. (which is nonsense to anyone who's ever met, for instance, a moose)
an apex predator is just a predator without natural predators of its own. you can be an anxious pathetic mess, but if you're not getting eaten by your neighbors, congrats! you're an apex predator.
i look it up to make sure cheetahs are apex predators
I find out it's not uncommon for cheetah cubs (and very occasionally adults) to be eaten by lions, leopards, hyneas, and even eagles???
well that sure calls into question their apex predator status. out of curiosity i check to see if there are any animals that hunt lions
this is how I discover that cheetahs, lions, hyenas, and leopards will all eat each other's children if presented with an easy opportunity (and sometimes young/elderly/injured adults)
begining to wonder how useful 'apex predator' is as a term
in conclusion, cheetahs are so fast because they are fueled by Grade A+ Ultra Concentrated Anxiety and they need that speed to run away from their problems
I think theyre still technically apex predators cause like. deer will eat mice and shit if given the right opportunity. just as a hyena might eat a lion cub if presented the opportunity
